Spring-wheel.



P. PUHRER.

SPRING WHEEL. APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 28, 1914.

Patented Dec. 1, 1911 awe/Mo;

PHUL F0 H RER M. w a m, t w

"main PAUL IFUHRER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Application filed March 28, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, PAUL Forums, :1. citizenoff the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver andState of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpringl'lheels, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to spring wheels for vehicles, and moreparticularly to that class of spring wheels in which spring spokes areconnected at their opposite ends to the hub and rim of the wheel toobviate the necessity of employing a pneumatic tire to absorb the shocksdue to uneven surfaces in the roadway.

An object of this invention is the pro vision of spring spokes forvehicle wheels, each of the spokes being connected at one end to the hubof the wheel, the outer end of each spoke being formed with a pluralityof convolutions, the outermost of which is secured to the inner face ofthe rim of the wheel.

A. further object of this invention is the provision of novel means forconnecting the inner ends of the spokes to the hub of the wheel.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novelconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinaftermore fully described, claimed, and illustrated in theaccompan vingdrawing. in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wheel with the hub partly insection, showing the manner of mounting the inner end of one oi. thespring spokes therein; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hub with thehub can removed: Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the hub; Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the innor end of one of the spring spokes; and Fig.5 is a view of one of the spring spokes in blank form.

Referring more particularlv to the drawing. the wheel comprises a hub 1,rim 2. and a pluralitv of spring s okes 3, the rim having the usualoutwardlv extending flanges on its opposite edges for engagement withthe tire of the wheel. The hub 1 is formed with a pluralitvof radiallvdisposed sockets 4, the sockets being open at the perinherv of the huband at one side thereof. The inner end of each socket is formed with aneplarged portion 5 which is cylindrical 1n.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 191.4.

Serial No. 827,960.

form. The hub is also provided with a plu rality of radially extendingnotches (5, each oi. the notches being disposed adjacent one side of oneof the sockets and communicating therewith. l lach of the spokes 3 isformed of an elongated plate of spring steel or other suitable metal,the inner end of each spring being curled or beaded as at 7, to form ahead for engagement with the enlarged portion 5 in one oi the sockets 4in the hub. Each of the spokes 3 extends radiallv from the hub for aportion of its length, the outer end of the spoke being,

curved to form a series of convolutions 8 at its outer end. theconvolutions increasing in width from the inner to the outermostconvolution. The outermost convolution of each snake is adapted to bearagainst the inner face oi the rim 9 and a wearing plate 9 is disposedagainst the inner face of each outermost convolution. the said outermostconvolutions being secured to the rim bv the bolts 10, the nuts ll. ofwhich bear against the wearing plate 9. The radiallv extend ing port onoi each spoke is formed on one edge with a laterallv extending flange12. the flange decreasing in width from the inner end oi the s oke tothe innermost convolution thereof, the fiance serving to strengthen theinner end of the s oke to prevent lateral bending thereof with relationto the hub oi the wheel.

It will be seen from the drawing. that the inner end of each s o e is monted in one of the sockets 4 in the head so that the head 7 en ages inthe enlarged o tion of its socket. and as the inner end oi the flange 12oi ea ch spoke on an ace the walls of the notch 6 which commun cateswith the socket. it will be seen that the inner ends of the s okes areheld rigidlv within the hub and pre ented f om mo ement in anv d ct on.To se curelv maintain the inne ends oi the s okes in eno ement with thehi b. a h b can 13 is p d which is sec d to the hub bv suitable bolts14. the hub c n closin the open ends of the sock ts. thercbv entirelvinclos n the inner ends oi the spokes and rovontino d s lacement t ereoffrom the sockets. As shown in th d awing. each of the spokes dec eas sin thickn ss from the inner con olut n t ereof to the o ter end. oi" thes oke. thercbv rende ng the outer ends 01 the s okes more sens tive toshocks than the inner ends thereof so that the shocks are graduallyabsorbed throughout the entire length of the spokes. As shown in Fig. 3of the drawing, the hub 1 is provided with a sleeve l extendingtherethrough, the sleeve 1 being adapted to close the inner ends of thesockets 4:, to limit the inward movement of the spokes With relation tothe hub.

Having thus fully described my. invention, What I desire to secure andclaim by Letters Patent, is

A spring Wheel comprising a hub, a rim, said hub having a plurality ofradially extending sockets formed therein, the inner end of each socketbeing formed With an enlarged cylindrical portion, said hub beingalso-provided with a plurality of radially extending notches each ofWhich being disposed adjacent one side of one of the sockets andcommunicating therewith, a plurality of spokes connected at their outerends to said rim, the inner end of each spoke being mounted in one ofthe sockets and having an enlarged head formed thereon for engage mentinthe enlarged cylindrical portion of the socket, each of said spokesbeing formed on one edge with a laterally directed flange for engagementin the notch adjacent one side of its corresponding socket, and saidflanges decreasing in width from the inner end of thespokes to the outerextremity of the flanges.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my signature in thepresence of twoWitnesses.

PAUL FUHRER.

Witnesses KATHERINE V. BAKER, HAMLET J. BARRY;

Copier. of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washingtoml). C.

